February 18, 2007

The best reason for a woman to shave her head is to prove that she is beautiful. Everything about your head -- including your face -- is so exposed -- exposed to our judgment. Natalie Portman proved her excellence. So did Demi Moore. Britney too.

Don't think that's why they do it? Think again.

IN THE COMMENTS: Some folks say Demi and Natalie shaved their heads because a movie role demanded. They have it backwards. Both actresses -- I'm willing to bet -- chose the role because it would require them to shave their head and they wanted the opportunity to demonstrate to everyone how amazingly beautiful they are.

... is a role for a movie. That is why two of the three women you mention did so. Another example is Sigourney Weaver for Aliens III? A so-so movie when compared to the first two, but tremendous actress none the less. But she, like Mrs. Portman and Moore / Willis (at the time) grew their hair back.

Reason # 2: Shock Value. See Sinead O'Connor. Her career lived then died by the "statment". If a Mohawk counts, there is Wendy O Williams.

Though she had a crew cut and was not bald, Annie Lennox may be the best example of a woman sporting an unconventional hair cut for aesthetic reasons, though her artistry certainly played a part.

Daryl, I don't give much credence to the rumormill. Maybe she was frantic, maybe she was coolly purposeful. It's not the point of the celebrity press to get the real story, but to get one that fits their ongoing Britney's Going Nuts narrative.

I think she looks great. I was surprised by how beautiful she really is, without any trappings. I'm hoping this is a pivotal, symbolic moment for her. But I'd feel a lot better if I read she'd enrolled in school or something like that. The years when most of us grow up, learn some things about the world and our place in it, she spent being pimped by her parents. I can't help wanting better for her.

Those who think Demi and Natalie shaved their heads because the role demanded it have it backwards. They both -- I'm willing to bet -- chose the role because it would require them to shave their head and they wanted the opportunity to demonstrate to everyone how amazingly beautiful they are.

I couldn't remember Persis Khambatta's name, but I did think of her too. She got a lot of credit for beauty that specifically got noticed because of the head-shaving stunt.

Some folks say Demi and Natalie shaved their heads because a movie role demanded. They have it backwards. Both actresses -- I'm willing to bet -- chose the role because it would require them to shave their head and they wanted the opportunity to demonstrate to everyone how amazingly beautiful they are.

I will counter your bet, double down, that the motivation is based not on the concept of beauty, but more on the perceived need to show how daring the actress is. In Theory, more daring = better roles. "Look at what I'm willing to do". Look at all the fuss over Charlize Theron and her role in Monster. There was more buzz about the fact that she wore little make-up that there was over her performance, which was good enough for the oscar. It's considered brave for an actress to show that she can take a role that deviates from the typical beauty queen female stereotype. But what happens when the role is over? They go right back to growing their hair back. That was one reason why I liked Annie Lenox so much. She stuck with it.

I'm not a girl (I just had to say it like that), but I understand the motivation behind "Bald". I've done it a few times for gigs. There is an allure for any artist, even a musician as crappy as I, to sometimes do the unexpected. I've done bald a few times myself. I will admit it is more acceptable for guys to go chrome that women, but even so, I always let my hair grow back after the gig. I don't keep it shaved because I have too many dents in my head from when my older brother played basketball with my head when I was a baby! (jk).

PS. There is still a line few thin actresses will cross - FAT. I don't recall an actress pulling the same trick DeNiro did with body weight when filming Raging Bull, but I can't say no one has.

Demi and Natalie may have chosen the movies because of the opportunity to shave their heads, but at least they had the roles to justify (for lack of a better word) their choices. Britney just looks crazy.

I think supper short hair on women is very beautiful, soft to the touch and easy to care for, I had mine at an eighth of an inch of an inch for several years. I didn’t have to spend a great deal of time fixing it, it is very freeing and I felt more feminine very earthy to me. I find it esthetically pleasing and I am not punk, just pretty normal mid thirties main stream feminine women. Sometimes I think people over think things. We don’t have this debate about men and their hair. The only reason I still have mine is I got tired of explaining to people why I didn’t have it. It is funny in a very modern society it is still some sort of big deal what women do with their hair, I think some things will never change.

How can anyone say that NOT having something (i.e. hair) detracts from a woman's Natural Beauty? The Lack of something cannot detract from anything. It doesn't make sense. If anything, it's the other way around - HAVING hair detracts from the beauty of the face itself.

I have lost my hair twice from chemo and shaved it voluntarily once. I am shaving it again in about two months for ART. I’d like to share my short video (4 minutes) with you since it speaks volumes and gives a good reason to shave your head:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8036351009443073439&hl=en

My web page:http://www.crowningglory.org/

Feel free to send this link on to anyone you think our message might resonate with (friends, family, cancer patients or survivors, artists, people born in 1957, etc.) since I would like to get a "head start" on gathering integral hair for my art piece as well as continue to spread the word that “We Are Not Our Hair.” I need all hair donations (real, synthetic or otherwise) by August 15th, 2007.